AOSHIDA SMSL C200 Review (DAC & Amp)

[Robbo99999]

I like it, nice aesthetics and nice objective measurements, it's performing well!

I'd say Filter #3 looks the best to me, as in no major roll off before 20kHz and reasonable attenuation after:

50mv performance is not spectacular but it's fine (what's 3dB SNR between friends afterall!):

I think the spectacular nature of this DAC/amp will come down to how it's priced, it's a balanced DAC/amp so that's a plus with plenty of power, totally transparent, what more do you need!

EDIT: I'll vote in the poll when the price comes in.

EDIT #2: The price has come in, $210 - I'd say that's a very good price considering it's a perfect performer and included a headphone amp along with the DAC, and of course the balanced output too as an additional bonus. I voted in the poll, had to be the best rating!

 

[renaudrenaud]

I like it, nice aesthetics and nice objective measurements, it's performing well!

I'd say Filter #3 looks the best to me, as in no major roll off before 20kHz and reasonable attenuation after:

50mv performance is not spectacular but it's fine (what's 3dB SNR between friends afterall!):

I think the spectacular nature of this DAC/amp will come down to how it's priced, it's a balanced DAC/amp so that's a plus with plenty of power, totally transparent, what more do you need!

EDIT: I'll vote in the poll when the price comes in.

Wha, finally a post that do not talk about a 8 channels DAC or an 20 cores processor to integrate James Webb Telescop communication for listening black hole sound and regrets it's not present in a 250$ product.

 

[Robbo99999]

Wha, finally a post that do not talk about a 8 channels DAC or an 20 cores processor to integrate James Webb Telescop communication for listening black hole sound and regrets it's not present in a 250$ product.

Ha, thanks, I was gonna say "what do you mean", but now after reading other posts in this thread then I think I know what you're getting at! But to be fair to the other people posting in this thread there is a good point that extra features & capability are increasingly attractive & interesting as the SINAD and transparency race in DACS and headphone amps is effectively already won.........which leaves us with price / feature / aesthetic / useability differentials. And I'm not being disparaging towards the SINAD race that's been won by the various participants in the recent hardware audio sphere....I like it & it's right that it's progressed.......it's also normal to expect that there is more to come post the SINAD race, and I look forward to seeing what innovations/offerings can be created by these companies. Regardless, these reviews are valuable, I wouldn't buy audio gear now unless it's been accurately measured by Amir or the few other places where such measurements take place.

 

[AudioSceptic]

These knobs they use on Sabaj/SMSL/etc are truly garbage. Small and hard to grab the very smooth surface. Thankfully the remote lets you skip ever touching it.

If it's that bad I'd put a small elastic (rubber) band around it to give some grip.

 

[Robbo99999]

If it's that bad I'd put a small elastic (rubber) band around it to give some grip.

Can they also be switched out easily with an aftermarket knob, for instance my JDS Labs Atom with a deeper & knurled volume knob (definitely improved ergonomics).....it just slides on:

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Thanks for posting this.

Would USB 2.0 pass all the codecs or would it take 3.0?

What about room correction for 9 plus channels?

As far as convenience goes this doesn’t look very convenient compared to an AVR/AVP.

I get the obsolete part, and although I don’t have Atmos in my present AVP it is capable of front wides and height speakers.

Edit;

Dorm room refrigerator size AVR? maybe I missed this model, please post the link. Just kidding.

Dirac will with its vst3 plug in processor correct in excess of 9 plus channels, and usb 2.0 will definitely carry 16 discrete channels of LPCM at, 24/96.

USB In Audio: Explained

USB's a bit of a confusing subject matter in the world of audio... What one's better and why? Find out here.

audient.com

 

[Deleted member 50971]

Dirac will with its vst3 plug in processor correct in excess of 9 plus channels, and usb 2.0 will definitely carry 16 discrete channels of LPCM at, 24/96.

USB In Audio: Explained

USB's a bit of a confusing subject matter in the world of audio... What one's better and why? Find out here.

audient.com

Thanks for posting this. I doubt I would ever go computer based home theater, but I’d like to understand it.

 

[Music1969]

What would be the advantage of a digital volume control? Based on instructions for external DAC/amps to always max the PCM source’s volume before the DAC for allowing the amplifier’s analog to control the volume was standard practice(?)

I'm not adding D-6 to my SP400 for digital control .

I paid for the resistor ladder analogue vol control for perfect channel balance. Running DAC in fixed output mode

 

[Music1969]

I don't really know. It depends on what the current level is into something like an aeon. This is where I find that most amplifiers lack which is not the THX design.

We actually do know. The measurements are on page 1

Aeons are 13 ohms and this reviewed amp and my SP400 have measurements into 12 ohms

And does it perfectly

 

[audiofun]

This is truly amazing, and a better alternative to topping's DX3Pro+, in the same price bucket.
It not only has better specs, but also has balanced line out.
Also SMSL has a much better DSD implementation than Topping.

 

[audiofun]

The headphone power graph indicates it uses the same Amp module as SMSL HO100 (6V max for load >= 16Ohm).

@amirm can you measure the headphone out Frequency Response and see if it has same early cutoff at low frequencies?

SMSL HO100 Review (Headphone Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL HO100 balanced (input) stereo headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by Aoshida Audio and costs US $149. The HO100 matches its companion DO100 DAC. Switches feel nice and so does the volume control. While 4.4mm penticon connector is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Labjr]

This is truly amazing, and a better alternative to topping's DX3Pro+, in the same price bucket.
It not only has better specs, but also has balanced line out.
Also SMSL has a much better DSD implementation than Topping.

Do we know that all SMSL DACs have better DSD implemenatation?

 

[audiofun]

Do we know that all SMSL DACs have better DSD implemenatation?

Those companies just copy their previous design over and release new product every month/quarter.
The performance is essentially the same within the company products line.
You can go to archimago's review and check it out ---
D10b is same as D90SE.
Sabaj a20d is same as smsl do100.
though D10b / DO100 uses ES9038Q2M and a20d and d90se uses ES9038Pro

I personally tested other Topping's and SMSL's products (DX3Pro+ for instance) and the results match very well with archimago's

 

[Labjr]

Those companies just copy their previous design over and release new product every month/quarter.
The performance is essentially the same within the company products line.
You can go to archimago's review and check it out ---
D10b is same as D90SE.
Sabaj a20d is same as smsl do100.
though D10b / DO100 uses ES9038Q2M and a20d and d90se uses ES9038Pro

I personally tested other Topping's and SMSL's products (DX3Pro+ for instance) and the results match very well with archimago's

Until I saw Archimago's post I always assumed the DSD or PCM performance was mostly dependant on the DAC chip.

 

[JSmith]

maybee it was a joke?

Nah it's just the auto-translate function... there's a few other funny ones during the video if you watch it with that on.

A really good digital volume control implemented.

Unsure if the C200 has this implemented;

The Sabre DAC Digital Volume Control: Better than Analog?

The ESS Sabre DAC built-in volume control The volume control is done just before the oversampling filter on the digital data. It can be set to 0.5dB increments and in order to avoid clicking upon v…

hifiduino.wordpress.com

JSmith

 

[stallion317]

Just received my topping ex5.. got it because it was on sale. Should I have waited for this one (smsl c200)??? Is there any major difference between the 2???

Thanks
Regards..

 

[Jimster480]

Do we know that all SMSL DACs have better DSD implemenatation?

It seems this way.

Just received my topping ex5.. got it because it was on sale. Should I have waited for this one (smsl c200)??? Is there any major difference between the 2???

Thanks
Regards..

Ex5 has MQA if you care. Also has more standard XLR balanced output.

 

[audiofun]

Seems Aoshida sells it for $219: https://aoshida-audio.com/products/smsl-c200

 

[DonR]

Up at Amazon 4 left $219 https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-C200-Headphone-Amplifier-ES9038Q2M/dp/B0B9391B45

 

[eyecent]

is it digital volume?
i haye channel imbalance.